Is a Dual Degree Right for You?

If you’re ready for a new career or want to move up in your current job, you might want to consider going back to college for a master’s degree. Feeling even more ambitious? Then you could improve your chances for that big promotion even more by pursuing a dual Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree. In these programs, you will earn an MBA as well as another credential, such as a Juris Doctor or Doctor of Dental Surgery. These programs are rigorous and especially challenging if you’re planning on continuing to work full time, but it’s more than worth the effort both monetarily and professionally.
Numerous schools across the nation offer dual degree programs, including prestigious institutions like Yale University, New York University and West Virginia University.
Yale University’s dual degree program
In an interview with the Yale Daily News, School of Management Dean Sharon Oster discussed why the dual degree program is winning approval among the students.
“In developing our joint degree programs, we have taken advantage of the strong ties across schools,” Oster told the news source. “For many students, the whole is far more than the sum of its parts.”

Nicole Cabbad, who graduated in the spring of 2011, got an MBA while attending medical school, and said that she believes these two disciplines are inherently connected. Whether you want to merge to disciplines or desire to gain a better grasp of an area you’re passionate about, a dual degree program will allow you to see more connections and let you hone your skills for a promising future career.

New York University’s JD/MBA degree

Students pursuing an MBA at New York University can also specialize in law under the institution’s dual degree program. With a Juris Doctor and Master of Business Administration under your belt, you can pursue a career in either field and potentially work not only in law firms or corporate offices, but also investment firms, nonprofit agencies or even government institutions.
While the programs would take about five years to complete separately, you can earn a dual degree within four years if you’re a full-time student. The first four semesters are solely spent at the School of Law, while the third is at the Leonard N. Stern School of Business and the fourth features lessons from both schools.

West Virginia University’s DDS/MBA degree

Combining a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) with an MBA might sound strange, but if you want to open your own practice after graduating from dental school, you may want to have some business experience so that your office can be successful. West Virginia University’s DDS/MBA dual degree is perfect for those who want to be their own boss and provide quality dental care at the same time.
“While we educate students to be very good clinicians, we have not equally prepared them for the ‘business of dentistry,’” said David A. Felton, the dean for the School of Dentistry. “This partnership will give our graduates a career advantage by enabling them to compete at the highest levels in the dental profession and provide them with an educational experience that only a few schools of dentistry currently provide.”

Things to consider

Before you decide to pursue a dual degree, you may want to ask yourself a few questions. First, are you ready to commit three to four years of your life for additional schooling? This is typically how long it takes to complete a dual MBA. Second, do you have the financial stability to attend college again? If you’re willing to set aside money, or take out loans, then you’re ready for this life-changing move.

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